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24usedtorock

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 26, 2009
166
0
The base Mac Pro model here is $3,699, and it is the exact same configuration as the below model on Apple's site. :eek:

Note that an authorized, premium reseller is selling it at such:

Apple:
2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processor
3GB (three 1GB) memory
1TB hard drive
$2,499

For those living abroad, did you bite the bullet and pay local markup or have it shipped and worry about it clearing customs and paying insane shipping? :confused:
 
Here it is £2041 from the Apple Store.

It isn't just the shipping and import duties though - we have the UK VAT (sales tax) of 20% which isn't the worst in the Eurozone either as well as the "we have a package for you with charges to pay... here is our bill for handling your charges for you". You also then have to spend money on the appropriate mains plugs.

When it was last discussed, allowing for currency fluctuations, there wasn't really much margin in it to save money. The dollar is currently at its weakest against sterling for almost a year but you still won't save much money.
 
Here it is £2041 from the Apple Store.

It isn't just the shipping and import duties though - we have the UK VAT (sales tax) of 20% which isn't the worst in the Eurozone either as well as the "we have a package for you with charges to pay... here is our bill for handling your charges for you". You also then have to spend money on the appropriate mains plugs.

When it was last discussed, allowing for currency fluctuations, there wasn't really much margin in it to save money. The dollar is currently at its weakest against sterling for almost a year but you still won't save much money.
If you got a shipment to the UK from DE would you have to pay fees?
 
US prices don't include sales tax.

Whilst that's true there's plenty who look at the Mac Pro price and think it's pretty expensive and then get a bit of a shock when it appears to be way overpriced compared to the US prices.

The lack of adjustment as the US dollar worsens against currencies doesn't help either.
 
Whilst that's true there's plenty who look at the Mac Pro price and think it's pretty expensive and then get a bit of a shock when it appears to be way overpriced compared to the US prices.

The lack of adjustment as the US dollar worsens against currencies doesn't help either.

Mac Pro isn't the only Mac that is overpriced in European countries. In fact, all Apple toys cost much more in here than they do in the US. It has just gotten worse in here. I remember when base Mac Pro was 2199€, iMac was 1099€ and MacBook was 899€. Now those prices are 2499€, 1249€ and 999€ respectively.
 
Importing products from companies in the USA to the EU isn't free. You need to account for import costs as well. Unfortunately most of the time it seems that Apple is making up its prices. They just suck their thumb and voila...
 
Apple also has to provide far more generous warranty policies in Europe as well do they not? That type of thing isn't free as many would assume.
 
Apple also has to provide far more generous warranty policies in Europe as well do they not? That type of thing isn't free as many would assume.
Apple warranties are only one year in UK. Many PC computer companies offer 3 years and at lower prices too.
You can however pay for an extended warranty.
 
Importing products from companies in the USA to the EU isn't free. You need to account for import costs as well.
Seeing as Apple goods are not even made in the US, that is not even an excuse. Apple are hardly going to ship from Taiwan to US and then to rest of world.
 
Apple also has to provide far more generous warranty policies in Europe as well do they not? That type of thing isn't free as many would assume.

Right. They lose sales on AppleCare that way and need to get this covered when they have to provide the same or better warranty to consumers. Another thing is that many countries in Europe have high taxes. Mine has 25% VAT.
 
Europe gets screwed every time.

Apple seemed to just turn the $ into a £ or € in the past, now it's a bit better but a base unit Mac Pro is still £2,041 which equals $3,312. 20% of that is VAT so $2,650 is Apple's cut.
I used to buy Irish Apple equipment from the Euro Zone to avoid excessive shipping and import taxes but today the price isn't that different. €2,449 equals £2,063 so no better.
The real killer in Europe is the lack of regular availability for Apple store refurbished Mac Pros, there is a 3rd party refurb market and it charges a higher price than you would like to pay.
Look, we have 5 available this week, http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro?mco=MjEwNzM3NTk woot! One of them is nearly $7000. :eek:

In 2008 I got my 8 core Mac Pro new for £1400 through Ireland when the UK ones were £1800, I bought a 8800GT card for it separately from the same source and it was £118 instead of £180 this was largely due to the $=£=€ concept. Today it just doesn't work like that.
A quad core 2.8 costs more today than my Octo did 3 years ago fer Christ's sake! :mad:
 
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Apple also has to provide far more generous warranty policies in Europe as well do they not? That type of thing isn't free as many would assume.
Only if they are the seller. In the EU the seller handles the warranty which is at least 2 year. In the Netherlands this has been set to "as long as the product life cycle" which would come down to 3 years for computers, 10 years for washing machines, etc. Most sellers in the EU completely ignore this legislation unfortunately. They simply point at Apple and tell you to handle it with Apple (which is strictly forbidden...).

@gpzjock in the .nl Apple Store there even isn't a refurbished section. There used to be one though...
 
No Dutch Refurbished store? Bummer! I guess you can buy from other European countries refurb sites but that isn't the point is it?
 
Here in Bulgaria they don't even sell Mac Pros in the online store of the authorized reseller apple.bg redirects to :). So you who knows how expensive it is...

P.S. The basic model MBP 13" which is $1199 in the US (in some states that don't have sale's tax, even cheaper in some online stores) is according to Google current exchange rate: 2388 Bulgarian levs = 1 668.76306 U.S. dollars which is more than 33% more expensive (mind the 20% VAT we have here).
Basic model iMac is even worse (in the US $1199): 2515 Bulgarian levs = 1 757.51218 U.S. dollars

P.P.S Just for your information the average wage is about 480 USD per... wait for it... MONTH! And this is the average! A lot of people work for less. Hell when I graduate from university and if I find a job I'll be "happy" to get that much... So in order to buy a MBP here I'll have to work for 4 months for a laptop... and not spend a single penny on anything else. While when I was in the US I save that much for 2 weeks while paying rent and for food.
 
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